SDV Insights

In a victory for policyholders, the Sixth Circuit affirmed that a landlord's insurer owed a duty to defend the landlord in a bodily injury claim arising out of a fire that killed three and injured one. The Court held that the insurer breached its duty to defend and was bound to the insured's $3 million consented judgment.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals recently concluded, in Nautilus Insurance Co. v. 200 Christian Street Partners, LLC., that a duty to defend is triggered when product-related allegations are pled in connection with a claim for defective construction.

Fresh off the heels of the California Supreme Court's landmark decision in Montrose Chemical Corp. v. Super. Ct. of L.A. Cty., policyholders scored another victory as another California court rejected horizontal exhaustion in the context of continuous injury cases.

When Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance was first introduced by the London underwriting market in the 1930s, it was intended to cover a narrow range of emerging liabilities. Following the Great Depression and the uptick in securities regulation, there was a perceived need for insurance to protect corporate officers from the risks of doing business.

Project-specific policies sold to the construction industry routinely include ISO form CG 21 44 07 98, entitled "Limitation of Coverage to Designated Premises or Project", to identify the covered construction project. Care must be taken in the use of this form, however, to avoid granting more coverage than the insured and insurer intend.

From structural collapses to fires, the construction industry has experienced a number of high-profile catastrophes over the past decade. These disasters test the mettle of even the most experienced risk professionals and the strongest insurance programs. Issues can arise in all facets of the company's contracts and insurance policies, and dealing with the aftermath is an extensive and demanding process that can involve many players.

The financial integrity of commercial entities depends heavily on their ability to anticipate risks and financial liabilities while working in conjunction with their partners and insurers to allocate these costs before they arise. This is a fluid and dynamic process as some companies' operations may span across numerous jurisdictions with varying approaches to the legal issues their business regularly faces.

Many policyholders assume that "following form" excess liability coverage will be available, if needed, above the primary policy's limits. This assumption should never replace the true measure of determining coverage--reading the policy.

An Indiana businessman found out the hard way how far his insurance company was willing to go to avoid paying a claim after it misrepresented the coverage of a crime policy it sold to him. The quote for the policy indicated that it included coverage for losses resulting from computer hacking.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented number of event cancellations ranging from travel and tourism, hotel and hospitality, corporate conferences, outdoor festivals, as well as many other events. By far, one of the largest industries impacted by COVID-19 is the hospitality industry.